Maritime Communication Services (MCS), Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Harris Corporation (NYSE:HRS), has signed a strategic agreement with CSnet. International to collaborate on the marketing, design, development and operation of ocean observing systems. The systems will be used for exploration of energy resources, monitoring of pipelines and reservoirs, marine science, warning of seismic events, and monitoring of infrastructure security.

“This agreement enables our customers to benefit from the combined expertise of two industry leaders — CSnet in the development of large-scale, offshore communications backbones, and MCS with over-a-decade of experience in autonomous marine communications,” said Rick Simonian, president of Maritime Communication Services. “We are very pleased to be working with CSnet on this important initiative, which will result in innovative new approaches to undersea environmental and scientific missions.”

CSnet’s Offshore Communications Backbone (OCB) consists of a network of power and fiber optic cables and sensor ports connected to a surface communications buoy. The communications backbone provides global users with a pre-engineered, expandable system that can be deployed — and redeployed — anywhere in water depths of up to 3,000 meters. The MCS Ocean Net® buoy will serve as the command, control and data backhaul for CSnet’s OCB, providing reliable data transmission of up to 2 Mbps in high seas and up to 2 kW of power to the sea floor.